Robles highlights Spain's great work at the helm of NATO's Standing Naval Grouping No. 1

The Minister for Defense, Margarita Robles, together with her Finnish counterpart, Antti Häkkänen, aboard the Spanish frigate 'Almirante Juan de Borbón'

This was a visit to confirm Spain's great work at the helm of this mission, which, in addition to ensuring security, allows for the establishment of first-rate diplomatic relations.

"The Finnish minister thanked us for Spain's presence and commitment in this mission," said Robles after the meeting, which emphasised the importance of NATO's deterrent role.

Robles pointed out that missions such as this one are a basic tool for providing protection to countries bordering Russia, which "are really worried about a possible escalation and expansion of the war zone. They are small countries with small armed forces and small capabilities," said the minister, who was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff (JEMAD), Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón.

"That is why it is important for them to know that all Alliance countries have a common goal, which is to ensure security and stability together," she stressed.

For his part, the JEMAD insisted that in the current context "deterrence has become the raison d'être of the Armed Forces, because it is the best way to use them without having to resort to armed conflict".

Mission

The 'Almirante Juan de Borbón' operates in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, alongside other ships from Germany, Norway, France and Italy, conducting hyper-realistic training exercises that are combined with monitoring of the Russian navy, such as the continuous presence that is essential for deterrence.

After being briefed on the first months of deployment by the commander of the SNMG1, Rear Admiral Joaquín Ruiz Escagedo, and the ship's commander, Commander Raúl Alba, the minister met with the frigate's crew and the 227 personnel deployed on the mission.

She conveyed the gratitude of the Spanish people to them and her own thanks for "flying the Spanish flag very high, working for peace in a difficult mission at a complicated time".

Robles stressed that Spain's commitment to Ukraine is total and absolute, as it is in many other places in the world, and that "wherever there is a Spanish ship, a Spanish mission, there is something very important, the effort, responsibility and vocation of service" of its soldiers.

The navy ship took command of the grouping on 11 January for six months.

NATO's naval groups are the forces that provide a permanent maritime presence for the Alliance and their operations are aimed at deterrence, collective defence, naval presence and enhancing naval-to-naval interoperability.

Non official translation